Elections 2018

Opinion

Ex-Warlord Faryadi 'Regrets Committing War Crimes'

Twenty years ago he controlled parts of the key Kabul-Jalalabad highway before moving to London where he changed his name

Former warlord and commander of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar-led Hizb-e-Islami party Zardad Faryadi has said he regrets his actions during the civil war, but is ready to appear in the court for the sake of justice.

Faryadi said he was released from a UK prison after completing his jail term, and stressed the release had nothing to do with the recent peace agreement signed between the Afghan government and Hizb-e-Islami.

Faryadi served more than 10 years in a UK prison on charges of torture and human rights violations before being deported back to Afghanistan earlier this month.

Twenty years ago he controlled parts of the key Kabul-Jalalabad highway before moving to London where he changed his name.

Back home, he has been accused of violating human rights and committing crimes during the Afghan civil war.

“As I am regretful, others also should be regretful. I was not the commander of the war, other Generals and commanders were involved in the war. I have paid for what I have done,” he said.

Faryadi said anyone who has complaints against him can file a petition for him to be brought to court.

“If anyone have complaints against me, they can register their complaints and I am ready to appear in court. What happened in the past is actually over, because I already served 10 years in prison for what I have done in the past,” he added.

Faryadi said he has no hard feelings towards those who testified against him during his UK trial in 2005.

Human Right Watch said that the deportation of Faryadi from the United Kingdom to Afghanistan on December 14, poses a clear danger for witnesses who testified against the former warlord.

Ex-Warlord Faryadi 'Regrets Committing War Crimes'

Twenty years ago he controlled parts of the key Kabul-Jalalabad highway before moving to London where he changed his name

Former warlord and commander of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar-led Hizb-e-Islami party Zardad Faryadi has said he regrets his actions during the civil war, but is ready to appear in the court for the sake of justice.

Faryadi said he was released from a UK prison after completing his jail term, and stressed the release had nothing to do with the recent peace agreement signed between the Afghan government and Hizb-e-Islami.

Faryadi served more than 10 years in a UK prison on charges of torture and human rights violations before being deported back to Afghanistan earlier this month.

Twenty years ago he controlled parts of the key Kabul-Jalalabad highway before moving to London where he changed his name.

Back home, he has been accused of violating human rights and committing crimes during the Afghan civil war.

“As I am regretful, others also should be regretful. I was not the commander of the war, other Generals and commanders were involved in the war. I have paid for what I have done,” he said.

Faryadi said anyone who has complaints against him can file a petition for him to be brought to court.

“If anyone have complaints against me, they can register their complaints and I am ready to appear in court. What happened in the past is actually over, because I already served 10 years in prison for what I have done in the past,” he added.

Faryadi said he has no hard feelings towards those who testified against him during his UK trial in 2005.

Human Right Watch said that the deportation of Faryadi from the United Kingdom to Afghanistan on December 14, poses a clear danger for witnesses who testified against the former warlord.